Diagnosis

Erythrasma

Etiology

Cause [svb]

• Corynebacterium minutissimum invade the upper third of the stratum corneum.

Pathophysiology [svb]

1. Corynebacterium minutissimum is a normal inhabitant of the skin surface

2. Under favourable conditions, the organism invades the stratum corneum,

3. Multiplies and produces clinically evident intertriginous lesions (axilla, inguinal crease, umbilicus, genitalia, gluteal cleft)

Risk factors [svb]

• Increasing age

• Favorable conditions (heat and humidity --> excessive sweating)

• Hyperhidrosis

• Obesity

• Diabetes mellitus

• Immunosuppression

• Overcrowding

Complications in immunocompromised individuals [svb]

• Endocarditis

• Abscess formation

• Intravascular catheter infection

• Cellulitis

• Pyelonephritis

Epidemiology

Prevalence per 100.000 [rmg][zro]

Approach

• Wood light examination --> coral-red fluorescence [svb]

• Gram stain

• Dermoscopy

• Biopsy

Treatment

1. Topical therapies: [svb]

   • Fusidic acid

   • Clindamycin

   • Mupirocin

   • Whitfield ointment

   • Benzoyl peroxide

2. Oral therapies:

   • Clarithromycin

   • Erythromycin

   • Tetracyclin

Differential diagnoses

Acanthosis nigricans, Candidiasis, Contact dermatitis, Eczema, Intertrigo, Parapsoriasis, Pityriasis rotunda, Pityriasis versicolor, Psoriasis, Seborrheic dermatitis, Tinea, Tinea corporis, Tinea versicolor